Stanley Jones, MD, an orthopedic spine physician and founder of a Houston medical day spa, performed spine surgery using stem cells on Texas Governor Rick Perry, according to a report in The Texas Tribune.
Dr. Jones received the procedure last year in Japan, and he experienced a good outcome, which is why he became interested in performing it for the Governor. Gov. Perry's surgery was the first time Dr. Jones had performed the procedure himself. During the procedure, Dr. Jones cultured fatty tissue from Gov. Perry's hip and several weeks later he injected the cells into the Governor's spine and bloodstream.

The stem cells were expanded at the Sugar Land RNL BIO lab. Dr. Jones plans to continue exploring the use of adult stem cells in spine surgery. Gov. Perry's Emerging Technology Fund has pledged millions of dollars to research of adult stem cells, according to the report.